ALAIN DE BOTTON: WHY MAKING FRIENDS AS AN ADULT FEELS IMPOSSIBLE (BUT ISN'T)

You might not have heard of Ben Parker, but you’ve almost definitely heard of Runna — the incredible running app that just sold to Strava for millions For me, this one’s probably my biggest regret but also one of my biggest lessons. A few years ago, a young entrepreneur came up to me after an event to tell me about his business. It sounded brilliant, but honestly… I couldn’t see it: “Why would a running app take off?” I thought. Well, that business was Runna, the app that’s now one of the biggest fitness apps in the world. And that young entrepreneur was Ben Parker. Missing the chance to invest in Ben’s vision taught me a powerful lesson: always look for the opportunity in someone else’s passion.Fast-forward four years and Ben’s built — and sold — a business that most would call “impossible.” But behind that success is a story of sacrifice, pressure, and what ambition really costs. In today’s episode, Ben opens up like never before about the realities of building something extraordinary — the highs, the lows, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.We cover:How to turn your purpose into a thriving businessThe personal sacrifices behind successWhat makes a truly great founderHow to build a culture that winsWhat it really takes to make it to the topAs much as I’m still a little gutted I didn’t invest, I’m blown away by what Ben’s achieved — and I can’t wait to see what’s next for him.This is one of those rare, raw conversations you don’t want to miss.And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone Producer: Helen BurkeEditor: Dan KingAssistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa Video: Jake Ji & Josh BennettAudio: Rafi Amsili Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter -  Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Katherine Ryan turned grit into greatness. Katherine Ryan might just be the funniest person on Earth. She’s a brilliant comedian, actress, writer and podcaster who says it exactly how it is.I first met Katherine a few years ago and I’ve always admired her energy and determination to succeed. Long before she became one of the UK’s biggest comedians, she was working on the stand-up circuit while raising her daughter Violet as a single mum. Now, with an incredible career and her fourth child on the way, she’s still doing it all completely on her own terms.We cover:How Katherine navigated life as a single mum in her twentiesShifting her mindset: overcoming insecurities and embracing gratitudeHer journey to succeed in a male-dominated industryWhy she treats her kids as capable individuals, not babiesOvercoming the challenges of maintaining intimacy during pregnancyI love every conversation I have with Katherine - and this one was no different. It reminded me how we can always learn more about ourselves and the way we approach life.Listen to Katherine’s new show, Write Me Dirty, where two comedians write FILTHY fiction about each other, here: OUT NOW!And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- @greatcompanypodcastTikTok - @greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone Producer: Helen BurkeEditor: Dan KingAssistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa Video: Jake Ji & Josh BennettAudio: Rafi Amsili Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter -  Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spencer Matthews is a very old friend of mine - we grew up together sharing some pretty embarrassing moments on television, making a name for ourselves as podcasters interviewing (and winding up) some of Hollywood’s finest, in our podcast, ‘6 Degrees’.However, in the last few years, our friendship has begun to wane, and it’s a question I’m asked all the time: "Have you and Spencer fallen out?". To tell the truth, I've never really known the answer to this… We’ve hardly seen each other for a number of reasons, and so when he reached out about this recording, I thought it’s time to get to the bottom of this, because friendships are important and worth fighting for.We cover:Why he wasn’t invited to my London weddingWhere he was during my ultramarathonsWild stories of our time on Made In ChelseaSpencer shares the lowest points of his alcoholismHow the grief of losing his brother as a child, has impacted his capacity for emotionsThis podcast was created for connection in a world of disconnection, and this episode is quite raw for me. Like many men, I’m not always the greatest communicator, and I think Spencer would say the same for himself, so having this opportunity to sit down together, and lay it all out on the table was really special.And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk I also sat down with Spencer on his podcast, Untapped, which, if you loved this, you can check out too: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/untapped/id1788474884 If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Exec Producer: Jemima Rathbone Producer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa Video: Jake Ji & Josh BennettAudio: Rafi Amsili Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter -  Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gstaad Guy is a creator I’ve followed for a few years, the anonymous creator who lifts the lid on the 0.01%. He gained fame for impersonating and poking fun at the lavish lifestyle of the ultra-wealthy in luxury ski resorts like Gstaad, created an alter ego, Cousin Colton, to represent the "new money" crowd.The fascinating thing about Gstaad guy is that despite satirising the ultra-wealthy, poking fun at their absurdity, he is loved by billionaires, with a huge concentration of them among his following. I was absolutely fascinated to have him in the studio to find out more…We cover:The madness of Gstaad, the secret billionaire hide out in SwitzerlandThe inspiration behind the character of ConstantineWhy we’re obsessed with wealthThe issues wealthy parents instil in their kidsHow we find happiness and dealing with failureHow he ended up working with luxury brands like Loro Piana and Audemars Piguet This conversation really opened my eyes to how some people live, but how ultimately, regardless of money, we’re all find happiness in connection with others.And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.uk  If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us: Instagram- www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcast TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcast And if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at: [email protected] THE CREDITS Exec Producer: Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeAssistant Producer: Rhoda Abrokwa Video: Jake Ji & Josh BennettAudio: Rafi Amsili Social Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony Barter -  Great Company is an original podcast from JamPot  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Key is a poet, a comic and someone who I developed an unlikely friendship with through various television appearances together. A few months ago, I went to see The Ballad of Wallis Island and was totally blown away by Tim who not only starred in the movie, but wrote it too. He is a total star and I was excited to have him in the studio - his dry wit combined with my restless energy always makes for a fun time.Tim is quite a personal guy, and like many comics, uses humour to deflect, but he shared a side of him I’d never really seen.We cover:How Tim faked going to Cambridge to get into the Footlights theatre groupBrotherly relationships and how some memories shape usFilming and writing The Ballad of Wallis IslandThe loneliness of LABecoming a comedian and summers in EdinburghI loved this conversation - it’s a little more lighthearted than other episodes, but within that light, we are still able to uncover the deep.Tim shared some poems from his new book, L.A. Baby! which you can find here: www.utterandpress.co.uk/And I've got a new book coming out, Boys Don't Cry which you can pre-order here: boysdontcry.co.ukIf you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:Instagram - www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcastTikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcastAnd if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] CREDITSExec Producer: Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeEditor: Dan KingVideo: Jake JiAudio: Rafi AmsiliSocial Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony BarterGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alain de Botton came on the show one year ago and totally blew me away. We spoke about relationships with parents, partners, attachment styles and so much more. And now he’s back and we’re talking all about a relationships we often overlook but is potentially one of the most important in our lives: friendship.Alain artfully dissects the issues we run into with deepening our friendships, why it’s so scary to vulnerable but how and why letting people in can lead us to a richer life. We cover:How to open up to having more meaningful friendshipsSexual anxiety in friendship particularly among menHow polyamory could be born from a lack of real friendshipFriendship break-ups and why they can be a good thingWhy people might be bad friendsHow to argue well in relationshipsAs expected, my mind was well and truly blown again. This conversation reminded me we can all have richer relationships if we take down our guards and ask the questions we really want to be asked.If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:Instagram - www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcastTikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcastAnd if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] you'd like to get Alain's latest book, 'The Secrets of Successful Friendships', you can find it here: shop.theschooloflife.com/products/the-secrets-of-successful-friendshipsYou can also hear more about The School Of Life here: www.theschooloflife.com/signup/And I’m also releasing a book, ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ which you can pre-order here: https://boysdontcry.co.uk/--THE CREDITSExec Producer: Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeVideo: Jake JiAudio: Rafi AmsiliSocial Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony BarterGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louie Spence is a showbiz icon. For thirty years he was a professional dancer, performing on the West End and touring with the Spice Girls and Take That. But it was his starring role on Sky 1’s Pineapple Studios that made him a celebrity. I’ve met Louie a couple of times before now and he genuinely lights up every room he’s in. But beneath his larger-than-life character is a different, quieter person who has struggled with anxiety and depression for as long as he can remember. We cover: His lifelong struggle with anxiety and depression His mum Pat’s secret battle with alcoholismFinding his people at Italia Conti stage schoolGrowing up as gay during the Aids epidemicHis decision not to become a parent I came away from our conversation knowing more about who the real Louie Spence is - and I think he is far more entertaining and interesting than he could possibly ever know. If you’ve been affected by anything mentioned in today’s podcast, here are some links:samaritans.orgmind.org.ukIf you enjoyed the show, you can also follow us:Instagram - www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcastTikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcastAnd if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] CREDITSProducer: Helen BurkeVideo: Jake JiAudio: Rafi AmsiliSocial Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony BarterExec Producer: Jemima RathboneGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessie J’s voice is unparalleled - a true superstar. Having been a fan for years, I was so excited to have her in the studio, but what she revealed during the record I had never expected to hear…In May, Jessie came into record and shared with me that she’d recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. A week later, she asked if she could come back in to record following her surgery. We’ve never recorded an episode in two parts before, but it felt important to give Jessie the space to share her story in the way that felt most authentic to her.For the first time in a long form, Jessie explains the full diagnosis story and updates us on life post surgery. She shares the experience of doing Capital’s Summertime Ball knowing it was her last performance before her surgery, how the experience has changed her, and the impacts on her relationships too.We cover:Jessie’s breast cancer diagnosis and journey to surgeryLife post surgeryHow she met and fell for her partnerHer experience of miscarriageWinning the Chinese singing competition, SingerThis conversation is all about not taking life for granted because you never know what’s around the corner. It’s about looking for silver linings, and sucking life for all its worth. Jessie - thank you for sharing your story with us, we’re sending you all the love and support.If you’ve been affected by anything mentioned in today’s podcast, here are some links:coppafeel.orgwww.cancerresearchuk.orgwww.macmillan.org.ukIf you enjoyed the show, you can also follow usInstagram - www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcastTikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcastAnd if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] CREDITSExec Producer: Jemima RathboneProducer: Helen BurkeVideo: Jake JiAudio: Rafi AmsiliSocial Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony BarterGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may know Tulisa from N-Dubz or as an X Factor judge in the 2010s, but one day it all came crashing down as she found herself at the heart of a sting, which saw her lose her reputation, her career and almost her life. She came into the Great Company studio to chat openly and exclusively with me about the last few years and share ALL the detailsWe cover:The court case that almost ruined her lifeThe truth behind those headlines that changed everythingFinding fame with N-DubzWhy she chooses to be celibateThis conversation is a wild ride and a reminder of never taking anything for granted. LOCK IN!If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow usInstagram - www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcastTikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcastAnd if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] CREDITSProducer: Helen BurkeVideo: Jake JiAudio: Rafi AmsiliSocial Media: Laura Coughlan & Anthony BarterExec Producer: Jemima RathboneGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a special bonus FRIDAY episode of Great Company!Chad Michael Murray is someone we all grew up watching - he was the teen heart throb I wished I was. I was a huge fan of One Tree Hill, Gilmore Girls and of course, Freaky Friday and as he was over to promote the sequel, Freakier Friday, I was delighted to get some time to chat to him…Chad opened up about feeling boxed in by stereotypes earlier in his career, and how having a family has taught him to free himself of others’ expectations. He tells me how an accident which resulted in months in hospital lead to his first big break. He also shared some excellent parenting adviceWe cover:- What is was like reuniting with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis on set- Pressure of being a heartthrob- Wanting to leave a legacy- His imposter syndrome at a table read- Why being a dad is his proudest achievement.This conversation made me really excited to become a dad!Freakier Friday is out in cinemas now.If you enjoyed the show, you can also follow usInstagram - www.instagram.com/greatcompanypodcastTikTok - www.tiktok.com/@greatcompanypodcastAnd if you've got thoughts, questions and comments, you can email us at [email protected] CREDITSProducer: Helen BurkeVideo: Jake JiAudio: Rafi AmsiliSocial Media: Laura CoughlanExec Producer: Jemima RathboneGreat Company is an original podcast from JamPot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.